Chris Ryan

A journalist, a Mum and now one of the most exciting new voices on the Australian comedy scene, Chris Ryan won Best Newcomer at the Sydney Comedy Festival in 2019 and a Best Newcomer Nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2021.

Her laconic take on everything from romance to passive aggressive co-workers earned Chris spots in Galas at the Sydney Comedy Festival (2019 & 2021), Canberra Comedy Festival (2013, 2017), Floriade Nightfest (2018, 2021) and TEDx Canberra (2018).

After feature spots in the 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Up Front Women’s Gala, the Audible Presents Live event, Chris was invited to tour with Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow across South-West Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, the ACT and Victoria.

Chris was also invited to perform comedy for the Australian troops in the Middle East and has toured from Darwin to Tasmania, through regional New South Wales and Queensland with the Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase. She has hosted and performed at major events including co-hosting the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in 2020, the Canberra Writers Festival and the RSL &Services Clubs and Leagues Clubs Australia National Conference (2021).

After co-hosting a breakfast show on Canberra’s 2XXFM for two years, Chris is a regular guest on ABC Radio Canberra and appears on ABC Radio Sydney’s Thank God It’s Friday with Richard Glover.

In 2020, Chris taught herself to use semi-automated animation software and produced a six-part online series called Chats with Mum, an unscripted, sometimes outrageous series of chats with her Mum, Wendy Ryan. Chris is producing the second series in 2021.

During 2021, Chris debuted her hour solo Big Hair, Big Dreams Big at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival where she was nominated Best Newcomer. She sold out her runs of the show at the Perth and Sydney Comedy Festivals and will film her debut special in 2021 in Canberra with thanks to a Homefront Grant, supported by the ACT Government.